Forty-two percent of hospitals reported that they provide complementary and alternative medical services (CAM), according to a recent report by American Hospital Assocication’s Health Forum and the Samueli Institute. That number has tripled since 2000 with healthcare executives citing rising patient demand as the primary driver for offering such services, reports American Medical News.
“The reasons hospitals choose to offer CAM services is quite revealing,” states the report. “Patient demand (85 percent) is by far the primary rationale in offering these services.” Seventy percent of respondents said they find alternative medicine to be clinically effectively. Many hospitals (58 percent), including faith-based organizations, also said that caring for the “whole person” was part of their organizations’ missions.
